1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." - The universe and all that is within is the intentional and purposeful creation of God. The "how" He accomplished such a feat is a debate for the ages but not the discussion of these verses. Instead, the focus of Genesis is on the "who" God is and reveals the magnitude of His glory.

6-24: "And God said… 'Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters…;' 9'Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place…;' 14'Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night…;' 20'Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly…; 24'Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind…'" - With a single spoken phrase, "Let there be…," all things are possible with God.

27: "So God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." - All questions, debates, or fears concerning our self-worth can be laid aside. We can praise God for we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)

26: "Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness…" - There is evidence of the plurality (trinity) of God even in the beginning.

28: "God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'" - This is our calling for environmental consciousness. Dominion does not mean to dominate or misuse nature; it is a calling to care for it. We are called to be the caretakers of God's creation.

31: "God saw everything the He had made, and indeed, it was very good." - Everything in God's creation is perfectly and wonderfully made. We are all precious in His sight.

2:3: "So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that He had done in creation." - "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8)

Points to Contemplate:

Does it truly matter how God created the universe?

Does the debate between Creationism and Evolutionism do anything to further our understanding of God or grow the world closer to Him? Are Science and Religion in opposition of each other or are they both human attempts to know God more fully? Instead of one or the other, wouldn't we all be better served to study all aspects of God's creation with the sole purpose of gaining a larger image and understanding of God?

Do you recognize that you bear the very image of God? How will this knowledge affect your day? When you are frustrated over the little irritations of life, can taking a deep breath of remembrance bring everything back into perspective? When you fail or have a crisis of self-worth, will this knowledge lift you and empower you to soar like an eagle? When you argue or fight with a neighbor, will his God-like image remind you who you are called to love?

How well are you doing with your job of Creation's caretaker? Do you accept that all things have worth in God's eyes and that He has commissioned them into your loving care? Or do you feel that He has made you lord over all His creation with the power to use and abuse as you see fit? Is He pleased when we scar and torch His earth for our pleasure or profit? Does He smile when one of His creations ceases to exist? On a scale between one and ten, with ten being a God-like management of earth, what score do you think God would give us for so far as earthly caretakers? What steps can be made to improve on this score?Promises of the Gospel:

God created the heavens and earth. There is not much to debate with this statement. The more we study His creation the more His glory is revealed. Regardless if we are literalists or realists, the magnificence of God's creation is evident wherever we look. Creationism and Scientific study are not opposed to each other; they compliment our attempts to understand God more fully. When we accept God as Creator, regardless of the how, we open our hearts to Him as Lord over every aspect of our lives. With this God-centered view, the wonders of His creation and our role within it become defined and we then become actively involved in loving and caring for all the earth. It is not a choice, it is our calling.